Upholstery edge



June 14, 1932. H. FOX I 1,863,269

UPHOLSTERY EDGE Filed March 25, 1951 I, I I

Patentecl June 14,.1932

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application filed March 25, 1931. Serial No. 525,048.

This invention relates to upholstery edges of the type shown in my Patent N 0. 1,741,- 413 antedDeoember 31, 1929, this invention ing an improvement thereon. Primaril this invention has for its obJect to provi e an edge presenting a smooth contour for the support of the upholstery covering and which may be flexed without in ury an to provide a portion for attachment to the frame or other part of the furniture whlch is strong and durable. To this end the edge consists of a body portion comprising a loosely felted material enclosed 1n a fabric covering to which the felted material is not intimately bonded, so that these parts may move on each other as the edge is flexed, and an attaching fin portion projecting from the body and also comprising interfelted material oovered with fabric, but in this portion of the edge the felted material and fabric are intimately bonded and secured together. For a more complete understandlng of this invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fi ure 1 is a perspective of a piece of materiaf which ma be used in the manufacture of the improve edge.

Figure 2 is an inverted plan of a strip of the material shown in Figure 1.

Fi re 3 is a perspective showing the strip of figure 2 with a core member secured thereto.

Figure 4 is a plan of the complete edge formed up from the material of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Figure 4. v

Referrin to the drawing, Figure 1 illustrates a we of material comprising a layer of fabric 1 such as burlap or the like carrying on one face thereof a layer of loosely felted material such as 2 which may be of hair, jute, or the like. At intervals spaced widthwise of the vweb this felted material is condensed and secured intimately to the fabric 1. This may well be done b the operation in the trade known as nee ling wherein a gan of, needles is passed downwardly throng the felted material and the fabric over the desired areas, pushing this felted material more or less into and through the fabric uniting them throughout substantially their entire confronting faces. These longitudinal zones of felted material condensed and united firmly to the fabric are shown at 3 and they are spaced by portions 4 which are left in loose condition and less firmly bonded to the fabric layer 1. This web is then cut into strips substantially cen- -trally through the needled zones, each strip having the felted material along its margin co firmly united to the fabric margin while between these margins the felted material remains in its original loosely felted condition and not intimately secured to the fabric.

Figure. 2 shows the back face of one of 66 these strips, the felted material showing through the fabric along the margins as at 5 while the weave of the fabric shows over the intermediate portion of the strip width as at 6. A narrower or core strip of the 70 felted material is also cut, this being shown at 7 in Figure 3. This strip is superposed along the center of width of the strip shown in Figure 2 and is preferably secured thereto as by a line of longitudinal stitching 8,75 although it may be unsecured if this is desired.

In order to maintain this narrow core strip 7 in coherent condition it will usually be found desirable to cut it from felted material having a fabric backing similar to the material from which the wider strip is formed and -also to needle this narrow stri so as to unite the felted material to the fabric layer. This, however, is not essential. If the narrow core strip is made with a fabric backing, this strip is referably laid on the Wider strip with its abric backing remote from the wider strip. The narrow strip having been superposed in the proper position on the wider strip, and secured if desired by a row of stitching, the two are then folded longitudinally so as to fold the narrow strip into the form of a substantially cylindrical core, as shown at 10 in Figure 5, and to wra the wider strip thereabout with its fabric covering 1 on its outer face, while the needled margins of the wider strip are brought together and secured by one or more lines of 1 stitching as at 12 and 13 in face to face relation. There is thus formed a substantially cylindrical body or bead portion 15 comprising the intermediate portion of the wider strip wrapped about the narrower strip as a core, and an attaching fin portion 16 projecting therefrom.. The margins of the wider strip forming the outer edge of the fin portion are preferably bonded together by over edge stitching 17. The fabric 1 over the bead portion of the edge, not being intimately united to the felted material enclosed thereby, is free to slip thereon as the bead is flexed so that the bead portion remains in flexible smooth condition in service and maintains a smooth foundation over which the upholstery covering material is drawn. Flexure of the strip is mainly perpendicular to the plane of the fin so that the line of stitching 8, if this is used, lies in the center or neutral plane and does not prevent the desired relative slippage between the fabric and underlying materia Within the fin portion, on the other hand, the felted material and the fabric are intimately united over substantial areas as through the preliminary needling operation, and by the lines of stitches 12, 1B and 17 and form a strong support for the reception of the fastening devices by which the edge is secured in position. The needling operation prevents the over edge stitches 17 from pulling out or unraveling the outer threads of the fabric covering. It has been found by actual experience that if the fabric and the felted material be intimately secured over the bead portion as by needling, flexure of the head causes the felted material to give way or break locally so that the bead becomes bunchy and non-uniform in its flexibility so that the fabric upholstery covering does not lie smoothly thereover, thus greatly impairing the appearance of the furniture.

Where the core strip is provided with the fabric and the fabric is positioned on the face remote from the fabric covering of the enveloping or cover strip, this fabric layer is folded longitudinally on itself in the finished edge so that it is located at the center of the bead transversely to the fin and at the neutral axis'of the bead Where no substantial slippage occurs during flexure. This fabric strip may thus be intimately united with the felted material without disadvantageous results and this is of considerable advantage during the cutting and handling of the strip as its integrity is more easily maintained. Moreover, since it is embedded within the core portion, even though it should be broken away locally from the felted material, it is so cushioned by the surrounding material of the wider strip that no detrimental effects are produced in the appearance or function of the edge. While the use of a core comprising a folded strip of felt is preferred, this invention in its broader aspects is not limited at 12 may to the use of a core so constructed or to the use of any core.

While two lines of through and through stitching 12 and 13 for securing the strip margins together at the fin are illustrated, one

be used 1f desired. The over edge stitching ties the material together firmly over the edge of the fin so that it is not liable to pull out under service conditions and due to the intimate uniting of the fabric and the felted material, a good hold for the over edge stitching is afforded.

From this description of an embodiment of the invention it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article of the class described having a body comprising loosely felted material and a fabric covering therefor free to move thereon as the article is flexed, and an attaching fin of less thickness extending from said body and comprisin felted material and fabric intimatel united substantially throughout their con ronting areas.

2. An article of the class described comprising a strip of loosely felted material and a layer of fabric overlying one face of said material, said strip being folded longitudinally about a core'to form a head with said fabric on the outside, the edges of said strip being secured together to form a fin, said be found sufiicient, while more may fabric and material being free to move relaother, the Wider strip being folded longitudinally to enclose the narrower strip as a core to form a bead, the edges of said wider strip being brought together beyond said core and secured together to form a fin extending along said head, said wider strip having a fabric layer covering said bead free to move relative to said felted material under flexure of said bead, and having its margins intimately secured to said felted material throughout substantially their entire confronting areas at said fin.

4. An article of the class described consisting of a pair of superposed strips each comprising a layer of felted material having a facing fabric layer, said strips being arranged with their fabric layers remote from each other, one of said strips being narrower than the other, said strips being folded longitudinally with said wider strip enclosing said narrower strip and the marginal portions of said wider strip being secured together in face to face relation, thereby to form a bead dled together,

including said narrower strip as a core and a finextending therefrom comprising said wider strip margins, the fabric of said wider strip being free to move relatively to its felted material over said bead portion and being intimately united to said felted material 'over substantially their entire confronting areas at said fin.

5. An article of the class described comprising a core, and a strip of felted material with a fabric backing wrapped about said core and having its margins secured together in face to face relation, said fabric at said margins being intimately secured to said felted material over substantially their entire confronting areas, said fabric elsewhere being free to move relative to said felted material under flexure, the edges of said margins being held together by over edge stitching.

6. An article of the class described comprising loosely felted material and a fabric on one face t ereof forming a body and an attaching fin of less thickness extending from said body, certain of said fabric and felted material being needled into intimate relation over a substantial area, said body portion having its outer face formed by fabric free to move under flexure of said article relative to the felted material enclosed thereby.

7. An article of the class described comprising loosely felted material and a fabric on one face thereof forming a body and an attaching fin of less thickness extending from said body, said fabric and felted material being needled into intimate relation over a substantial area in the fin portion of said article, said body portion having its outer face formed by fabric free to move under flexure of said article relative to the felted material enclosed thereby.

8. An. article of the class described consisting of a pair of superposed strips, one narrower than the other, each strip comprising a layer of felted material having a facing fabric layer, said narrower strip having its felt and fabric needled together and the side margins only of said wider strip being needled together, said strips being folded longitudinally with said wider strip enclosing said narrower strip and the marginal portions of said wider strip secured together in face to face relation, thereby to form a bead including said narrow strip as a core and a fin extending therefrom comprising said widerstrip margins.

9. An article of the class described consisting of a pair of superposed strips, one narrower than the other, each strip comprising a layer of felted material having a facing fabric layer, said narrower strip having its felt and fabric needled together and the side margins only of said wider strip being neesaid strips being folded longitudinally with said wider strip with its fabric face outward enclosing said narrower strip and the marginal portions of said wider strip secured together in face to face relation, therebv to form a bead including said narrower strip as a core and a fin extending therefrom comprising said wider strip marms. g 10. An article of the class described having a body and an attaching fin of less thickness than said body,.said body comprising loosely felted material and a fabric covering therefor free to move relative to said material as the article isflexed transversely of said fin, said fin comprising felted material and fabric intimately united over substantial areas.

In testimony HARRY FOX. 

